Scores of mourners packed the city hall beyond capacity this week during a memorial service for Siphokazi Tom, a school teacher who was brutally murdered in her home on Tuesday 15 October.
Scores of mourners packed the city hall beyond capacity this week during a memorial service for Siphokazi Tom, a school teacher who was brutally murdered in her home on Tuesday 15 October.
More than 500 mourners and well-wishers flocked to the Grahamstown city hall on Tuesday afternoon to celebrate and remember the life of the late Fikizolo Primary school teacher who was stabbed to death a week ago.
The memorial service, which started an hour late, was organised by the school.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Luvuyo Mjekula said the police are investigating a case of murder, but have made no arrests so far.
The gruesome murder of the well-known teacher and church leader has shocked the community. Reportedly a taxi driver, the man is said to have broken into Tom's D Street home before attacking her with a sharp object in front of her child, according to sources close to the family.
The emotional service was opened with a tribute to Tom by the Fikizolo school choir followed by numerous tributes by those who knew her.
Speaking at the event teacher Nkoli Makhubalo described Tom as a strict and outspoken person. Makhubalo said on the day before her tragic death Tom's behaviour was strange. "The strange thing is that she was very humble on that day. She was not strict as she usually is. Maybe God was speaking to her," she said.
Makhubalo said Tom's son was there when the dedicated teacher lost her life in the early hours of Tuesday morning. "Her child was there and he will be a witness as to how she died," she said.
Tom's former teacher and Archie Mbolekwa principal Zola Motlabane said he has also lost an official, because she was always one of the track judges during school athletics.
"She was a jack of all trades. Nobody could catch uSphokazi, she was the pride of the school," Motlabane said, describing Tom in her school days. Reverend Nkosinathi Ngesi encouraged the family to look after Tom's young child to help him deal with what he witnessed.
"I would like to advise the family who witnessed Siphokazi's death to be taken for counselling," he said.
Ngesi also urged Tom's family to forgive her murderer, so they could move forward and heal.
